Skating with the Stars

Rookies and pros alike can appreciate just how lasting the sport of wrestling is. Bare chested men grappling for the perfect hold to pin their opponent down for the count are reminiscent of Gladiators from centuries ago. Crowds root and scream for their hero as they yell words of encouragement to their chosen contender. This program, from World Wrestling Entertainment (the WWE) takes us behind the scenes of professional wrestling and combines reality television with scripts taken from live events. Watch to see who will emerge as the next super star of the sport and who will fade away into obscurity if they can't stand the heat of battle in the ring. Weekly matches and challenges test the skills and physical ability of rookies. Like other reality style shows they have to win contests and perhaps earn immunity from elimination in the next round. Contestants move up through the ranks much as they would in real competition but much faster through the magic of reality television. Winning contestants are usually rewarded with a career boost into stardom.

Take a screenplay penned by David Milch, add in direction by Michael Mann, and then throw in actors of the quality that includes Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Jason Gedrick, Jill Hennessy, and Nick Nolte and you have the makings of a new hit series! Dustin Hoffman is not new to television but it's been a while since he won an Emmy for his Death of a Salesman Willy Loman role. He plays Chester "Ace" Bernstein, a dedicated gambler who's just been released from a four year stint in prison. He returns to his beloved race track and doing what he does best. Now more determined than ever to "beat the system" Ace learns his driver Gus (Dennis Farina of Midnight Run, Get Shorty, & Law & Order) is now owner of a race horse. Mob boss Turo Escalante (played by John Ortiz from Ransom, Narc) is the actual owner who now owns several horses and they all plan on winning big with the inside edge from race horse ownership. Sudden Luck makes them all rich and only adds to the twists and turns involved in this highly entertaining series.

"Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" is a television series produced by HBO, based on Jeff Pearlman's book "Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s". The first season contains 10 episodes and centers around the "Showtime" era of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team, which began in late 1979. The show features an ensemble cast, including John C. Reilly, Quincy Isaiah, and Adrien Brody, and is directed by Adam McKay.

With their sites set on the Olympic Games we follow along with the lives of three teen gymnasts who strive to be the best and reach the ultimate goal of Olympic medals. Popular with viewers and critics as well, Make It or Break It has captivated audiences with the high quality writing and acting on each weekly episode. Kaylie Cruz is played by Josie Loren ( ), Payson Keeler played by Ayla Kell ( ), and Lauren Tanner portrayed by Cassie Scerbo ( ) are three determined teens who have been on the road to the Olympics most of their lives and are determined to be the best they can be physically as well as mentally. They work out at the "Rocky Mountain Gym" which is a fictional place in Boulder, Colorado. The Rock as their gym is known by offers great equipment and a place for the youngsters to meet and compete as they train for their future in gymnastics. There are "no dating" rules which, being teens, is bound to be broken and each new member must pass inspection before they are allowed to join the ranks. Lauren is the devious one who intends to come out on top.

We all love to witness a successful comeback and when it involves the sport of boxing that usually means a punch drunk older fighter attempting to make it back into the ring and winning. The expression lights out generally infers someone has been punched out or unconscious, followed by a ten count, and then the match is over. Patrick Leary has the nickname "Lights" for a reason and even though he wants to make a comeback the odds may be stacked against him. With mounting bills and a family to support he needs to make up his mind if he should make a living as an intimidating debt collector or make good on his dream of the comeback in boxing. Either way his brain has been dulled by too many punches to the head and he suffers from pugilistic dementia. In other words Leary is punch drunk. Holt McCallany stars as "Lights" Leary and to prepare for the role he trained with Freddie Roach in an attempt to imitate some successful pugilists they know. It will be interesting to find how successfully he can make that comeback.

Ever wonder how Las Vegas Nevada came to be? How did this little desert town become the crown jewel of the gambling world and earn the nickname Sin City? Vegas On Demand is not a documentary program that shows the dirty little secrets behind all those bright neon lights but rather a showcase for all the excess and glitter that is found behind the scenes of each of Vegas' bright attractions and hot sexy shows. Gambling is not the only attraction in this brightly lit town. It's the place where even Elvis Presley came to make a comeback while others who are new at the game attempt to make a lasting impression. Vegas On Demand takes viewers to get a "fly on the wall" experience through observing how games like Blackjack are controlled by the eye in the sky and extensive security measures. It is a guilt free trip to Vegas where you don't have to worry about throwing away your next house payment when Lady Luck fails to shine on you at the roulette tables or cause you to crap out when rolling the dice.